Pennsylvania's intrastate rules are in 67 Pa. Code Chapter 231, which applies to intrastate carriers of property or passengers, whether common, contract or private. It adopts 49 CFR Parts 382, 385, 390, 391, 392, 393, 395 and 396, with changes. The biggest change is the weight threshold: for intrastate operation a commercial motor vehicle starts at 17,001 pounds GVWR or GCWR, not 10,001 (passenger vehicles, school buses and placarded hazmat at any weight). Chapter 231 also drops the federal minimum age of 21 for intrastate drivers and keeps a medical grandfather provision for drivers employed as of September 23, 1995. The Pennsylvania State Police, not PennDOT, is the MCSAP lead agency. For-hire intrastate carriers need a PUC Certificate of Public Convenience.
Chapter 231 deletes the federal carrier registration filing (49 CFR 390.19) for intrastate carriers, yet PennDOT requires intrastate trucks of 17,001 pounds or more to display a USDOT number. In practice, intrastate carriers need the number for marking.
Who this guide is for
Pennsylvania is home to 33,330 interstate carriers in FMCSA's census (fourth of 51), 86.8% of them running 10 or fewer power units, and 45,963 intrastate carriers listed in the same file. This guide is for Pennsylvania carriers and safety managers working through Chapter 231. Southeastern Pennsylvania carriers can also see our Philadelphia metro page.
What Chapter 231 adopts and changes
| Topic | Federal (interstate) | Pennsylvania intrastate (Chapter 231) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight where the rules start | 10,001 lb | 17,001 lb GVWR/GCWR; passenger vehicles (more than 8 for compensation, more than 15 otherwise), school buses and placarded hazmat at any weight |
| Parts adopted | All FMCSRs | Parts 382, 385, 390, 391, 392, 393, 395 and 396, as modified by section 231.8 |
| Minimum driver age | 21 | Federal age rule deleted; minimum set by Pennsylvania licensing law |
| Medical qualification | 49 CFR 391.41 | Drivers regularly employed as of September 23, 1995 who cannot meet Part 391 may qualify for intrastate-only driving if certified by the medical examiner and carrier; certificate marked intrastate only |
| Hours of service | Part 395 | Part 395, with a snow-removal variance (12 hours driving, not after 16 on duty); government snow removal and road maintenance excluded |
| Carrier registration filing (390.19) | Required | Deleted for intrastate carriers, while PennDOT requires the USDOT number to be displayed |
What the 17,001-pound line means for your trucks
The 17,001-pound line means a 10,001 to 17,000-pound truck operating only within Pennsylvania is generally outside Chapter 231, unless it fits a passenger, school bus or hazmat category. The same truck in interstate commerce is fully under the federal rules. For PUC purposes, intrastate transportation means both origin and destination are in Pennsylvania, a simpler test than the federal interstate-commerce analysis; see our interstate vs intrastate guide.
Who enforces trucking safety in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania State Police is the Governor-designated MCSAP lead agency. Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission enforcement officers take part in MCSAP roadside inspections under the State Police's administration, and some municipal police departments participate as well.
USDOT display, PUC certificates and inspections
USDOT number: PennDOT states that a truck of 17,001 pounds or more GVWR/GCWR operated in Pennsylvania intrastate commerce must display the carrier's USDOT number, a rule in effect since April 2010; farm trucks, school buses and government vehicles are exempt. FMCSA also lists Pennsylvania among states that require intrastate USDOT numbers.
PUC certificate: the Pennsylvania PUC issues Certificates of Public Convenience for for-hire intrastate transportation of property, household goods and passengers; the certificate must be issued before service begins. The PUC overview we reviewed dates from 2011, so check current fees and procedures with the PUC.
State inspection: since February 2, 2017, Pennsylvania motor carrier vehicles with a registered gross weight over 17,000 pounds are inspected annually rather than semiannually (Act 165 of 2016). Older PennDOT bulletins that still say "semiannual" are out of date. The federal annual inspection is a separate requirement; see our annual inspection recordkeeping guide.
What Pennsylvania roadside inspections find
Pennsylvania inspections combine above-average driver findings with typical equipment findings. The driver out-of-service rate at Pennsylvania inspections was 8.3% (national 6.2%), and 9.0% of driver inspections recorded an HOS violation (national 7.8%). Brakes, lighting, clearance lamps and emergency equipment lead the violation groups.
| Roadside inspections, September 25, 2024 to September 24, 2026 | Pennsylvania | 50 states and DC |
|---|---|---|
| Inspections reported by the state (all carriers) | 165,937 | 5,653,653 |
| Driver out-of-service rate | 8.3% | 6.2% |
| Vehicle out-of-service rate | 22.7% | 22.5% |
| Driver inspections with at least one HOS violation | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| Vehicle inspections with at least one maintenance violation | 55.2% | 48.9% |
| Most frequent violation groups at Pennsylvania inspections | Violations | Share of all violations recorded |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes, other than adjustment (FMCSA: Brakes All Others) | 24,571 | 12.4% |
| Lighting | 18,001 | 9.1% |
| Clearance and identification lamps (FMCSA: Clearance Identification Lamps/Other) | 15,480 | 7.8% |
| Emergency Equipment | 12,848 | 6.5% |
| Dangerous Driving | 12,813 | 6.5% |
Source: Fleet Regulators analysis of FMCSA Safety Measurement System (SMS) input files, monthly run published October 2026, covering roadside inspections recorded September 25, 2024 to September 24, 2026. "In the state" means the inspection was reported by Pennsylvania, whatever the carrier's home state. Driver rates use Level 1, 2, 3 and 6 inspections; vehicle rates use Level 1, 2, 5 and 6. Group names are FMCSA's. Same method as our HOS roadside violations study.
47.7% of the inspections Pennsylvania reported in this window involved carriers based in another state, and 52.3% involved Pennsylvania-based carriers. Pennsylvania-based interstate carriers, wherever inspected, had a driver out-of-service rate of 5.7% and a vehicle out-of-service rate of 19.8%. These figures describe what inspectors recorded, not how safe carriers in the state are. Rates move with enforcement priorities, which inspection levels a state favors, where it inspects, and which carriers pass through.
Pennsylvania compliance checklist
- Sort vehicles at three lines: 10,001 lb (interstate), 17,001 lb (Pennsylvania intrastate), and the passenger and hazmat categories.
- Display the USDOT number on intrastate trucks of 17,001 lb or more.
- For-hire intrastate: hold a PUC Certificate of Public Convenience before starting service.
- Schedule annual state inspections for vehicles over 17,000 lb registered gross weight, plus the federal annual inspection.
- Document any intrastate-only medical certifications and keep those drivers on intrastate work.
- Audit logs daily; Pennsylvania inspections record HOS violations above the national rate.
- Keep driver qualification files (see the DQ file checklist) complete and current.
How Fleet Regulators supports Pennsylvania carriers
We support Pennsylvania carriers remotely from Austin, Texas; we have no Pennsylvania office. What we can do: mapping trucks to the right thresholds, building driver qualification files, auditing logs, organizing state and federal inspection records, and preparing for State Police compliance reviews.
Get Expert Help With Pennsylvania Trucking Compliance
From Chapter 231 questions to State Police compliance reviews, we help Pennsylvania carriers stay organized and audit-ready.
Talk to Fleet Regulators →Frequently Asked Questions
17,001 pounds GVWR or GCWR under 67 Pa. Code 231.8, plus passenger vehicles, school buses and placarded hazmat vehicles at any weight. Interstate commerce uses the federal 10,001-pound threshold.
The Pennsylvania State Police, not PennDOT, is the Governor-designated MCSAP lead agency. PUC enforcement officers and some municipal police also take part in roadside inspections.
PennDOT requires intrastate trucks of 17,001 pounds or more to display the carrier's USDOT number, with exemptions for farm trucks, school buses and government vehicles. Chapter 231 separately deletes the federal registration filing rule for intrastate carriers, so confirm registration details with PennDOT.
Annually. Since February 2, 2017, Pennsylvania motor carrier vehicles with a registered gross weight over 17,000 pounds are inspected annually instead of semiannually, under Act 165 of 2016.
Yes. The Pennsylvania PUC issues Certificates of Public Convenience for for-hire intrastate transportation of property, household goods and passengers, and the certificate must be issued before service begins.
- 67 Pa. Code 231.1, General information and requirements ↗
- 67 Pa. Code 231.2, Scope ↗
- 67 Pa. Code 231.7, Adoption of portions of 49 CFR by reference ↗
- 67 Pa. Code 231.8, Additions or modifications to 49 CFR ↗
- USDOT number fact sheet ↗
- Elimination of semiannual inspections for heavy trucks FAQs ↗
- Overview: obtaining authority as an intrastate carrier ↗
- Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program ↗
- Pennsylvania FY2024 Commercial Vehicle Safety Plan ↗
- SMS Input - Inspection (dataset rbkj-cgst) ↗
- SMS Input - Violation (dataset 8mt8-2mdr) ↗
- SMS Input - Motor Carrier Census Information (dataset kjg3-diqy) ↗
Last updated November 2026. Prepared by Fleet Regulators from the sources listed above. This page explains regulations in plain English and is not legal advice. Rules change; confirm current requirements with the agency named in each source before acting.
